"Until now efforts are still being made using our own resources," the Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Syamsul Maarif, said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia needs no help yet from Singapore or Malaysia to fight forest fires in Riau province, the Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Syamsul Maarif, said here on Tuesday.
"Until now efforts are still being made using our own resources," he said Halim Perdanakusuma air force base.
Moreover no offer has also been made by either Singapore or Malaysia that have so far been affected by smoke from the fires.
Syamsul said fire fighting efforts would last for a month or longer.
"We will carry out the operation for a month and it may be extended.
Alertness has also been done in seven other regions in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Syamsul said until Tuesday a total of 265 hotspots or fires had been detected in Riau.
He said BNPB would only use data from the Meteorology, Geophysics and Climatology Agency (BMKG) as a reference due to a lot of information about the fires.
"So, we will only use one source of data, which is accountable and accurate (from BMJG) as a reference," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
